Some authors try to classify this family as a subfamily of Nymphalidae but from the tradition it was consider as a separate family. I still as many other authors accept the traditional classification of Danaidae as a separate family. This separation is based on,

similarity of early stages

similar habits and

poisonous nature.

Featurs of Family Danaidae

1. Small to Large size butterflies. Most are not brightly coloured

2. Forelegs modified in to brushes and are not suited for walking

3. Sex marks appear on the wings of most males,

either as patches on the hindwing

or one or two brands on the forewing

or with sex brand patches on either fore or hind wing.

in some Euploea males the dorsum of forewing bowed and in females it is straight

4. Most danaidae males have one or two pair of anal hair of pencils

5. Most of the members are model of 'mimetic' butterfly species of other families.